What Does Lactobacillus Reuteri Do?

We have been focusing on the topic of probiotic bacteria quite frequently here on our Health Insiders Blog. However, we can appreciate that there may still be many questions relating to what probiotic bacteria is best for your needs and understanding the different species of bacteria in more depth. Therefore, in today's blog post we will be taking a deeper dive into the probiotic bacteria strain, Lactobacillus Reuteri by discussing what it can do for the body, how to get it into the body, and how long it can take to work. If you would like to read through our similar blog posts on probiotics bacteria then you can click the following link that will take you to our entire Health Insiders Blog catalogue! 

What does Lactobacillus Reuteri help?

Lactobacillus Reuteri is a strain of lactic acid bacteria that is believed to have the ability to improve digestion and restore normal flora as its primary objective. Furthermore, this strain of lactic bacteria is also linked to helping treat bowel obstructions like diarrhoea. This strain of bacteria can also help younger children and infants who suffer from gastrointestinal issues. L.Reuteri bacteria is found in the digestive tract which means it can help ensure food is being properly broken down and the vital nutrients are being absorbed to help fight off ‘unfriendly’ bacteria. 

Below you will see a list of further benefits that L.Reuteri is believed to be effective in helping:

• Abdominal pains - If taken daily can help reduce abdominal pain.
• Constipation - L.Reuteri is believed to help increase bowel movements. 
• Eczema - When combined with L.Rhamnosus are said to help prevent & reduce symptoms.
• Help eliminate H. pylori bacteria - to stop the bacteria from building up in the stomach.
• Lowers cholesterol levels - limited studies believed daily consumption lowered cholesterol
• Help fight Infection - L. Reuteri can produce antimicrobial molecules.

Whilst the list could go on much longer, many benefits of Lactobacillus Reutie have limited research findings; although all those listed above have been through the most trials and therefore are amongst the more reputable benefits. Lactobacillus Reuteri is a popular ingredient in many probiotics supplements for both adults and children; infants and children especially can benefit from L.Reutie due to their ability to aid in digestion and relieve gastrointestinal issues & abdominal pain. Now, you might be wondering just how long it takes for L.Reuteri to work; so let's explore that next… 

How long does it take L.Reuteri to work?

Everyone who is taking Lactobacillus Reuteri may be doing so for different reasons which also means their effects may take longer for some people to notice than others. Normally, you can expect to notice the effects of Lactobacillus Reuteri within just a few days, depending on what you are taking the L. Reuteri probiotic supplement for. If you believe your health is typically well managed and are taking Lactobacillus Reuteri to help support your digestive system then you may not experience any noticeable difference but that doesn't mean they are not working! If you are considering taking Lactobacillus Reuteri due to digestive pain, upset or disturbance then you may notice an improvement in your symptoms in as little as 3-4 days. 

Whilst you may notice symptoms like bowel obstructions, abdominal pain and even gastrointestinal issues ease off after a couple of days; it is still important to consider continuing your chosen course of Lactobacillus Reuteri (probiotic) supplements as managing symptoms is just as important as easing them. By continuing your supplement or Lactobacillus Reuteri intake, you are giving your digestive system and microbiome a continuous amount of support that can ensure symptoms do not arise again suddenly. Lactobacillus Reuteri supplements are not the only way to get more L. Reuteri bacteria in the body;  there are natural methods of increasing the bacteria in the body…

How can I get Lactobacillus Reuteri naturally? 

You can increase your Lactobacillus Reuteri population naturally by including more food and drinks in your diet that contain live bacteria as well as consuming foods that are also high in natural fibre. Here is a list of the top five foods containing Lactobacillus bacteria to help boost the level of bacteria naturally in the body…

• Sauerkraut can help enhance your digestive system by naturally optimizing gut flora and microbiome. 
• Yoghurts are known to contain lactobacillus bacteria which is known to have many health benefits. 
• Sourdough Bread also contains Lactobacilli, an important group of fermented bacteria.
• Kefir grains are a vital combination of both natural lactic acid bacteria and yeast.
• Kimchi contains natural probiotics that can strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation and prevent yeast infections.

You can find different strains of natural lactobacilli bacteria in an assortment of foods and drinks that you are very likely to already have as a part of your high-fibre diet. Strains can even be isolated in several types of dairy products like fermented milk and different kinds of cheese. One of the most popular sources of natural Lactobacilli bacteria is yoghurts as they are easy to consume and even younger children typically enjoy eating them; yoghut can provide an essential source of probiotic bacteria but not all yoghurts will! It’s important to make sure you read the food labels if a ‘probiotic’ yoghurt is what you are looking for to help get more Lactobacillus bacteria naturally. It is also worth remembering that high-fibre foods are also a great way to support your gut health and overall digestive system. Plant-based foods like fruit (bananas especially), vegetables and pulses can all be highly beneficial for boosting ‘friendly’’ bacteria levels back into the body naturally. 

Be sure to have a look through our previous Health Insiders Blog posts as we have covered probiotic and prebiotic-rich foods on our blog before. We plan to take a deeper dive and break down more foods that are high in Lactobacillus in our next post, so be sure to bookmark our blog if that sounds like something you’d like to read further…